Rojie

There is loads of info on this Forum on this subject. Quite a debate actually. All is not what it seems ! (Japanese premium has a lower RON than UK premium). As Frankie says, stick with E5 until, and if, you become E10 is safe. Some users of E10 are experiencing issues. Please continue this on one of the other threads. Search E5 or E10. Thank you

Hello again Ian, So what can we do to help ? Many importers and convertors can fit a new speedo chip and speedo facia panel. (This may be achievable by diy. I don't know). There are a couple of convertors near you, maybe they can do it. Should be inexpensive but care is needed removing trim panels. There are two types of HDD; one rare and the other very common. If you have the common one and put a cd in the drawer it will probably be recorded to your HDD. There is a setting to do this buy most Alphies default to do it. Otherwise more reading required ! Changing the head unit is entirely possible, bit if you have cameras you will most likely lose them. Think carefully before you proceed. Ben Hau (beanbean280r on youtube) in Birmingham is a specialist; but there are others. Your windows probably need resetting (often do after a battery disconnect, electric sunroof too) Wing each window down from the drivers door, wait five. wind it up. Do each other window. Should be OK, otherwise get back on this Forum. There is a new thread on whole vehicle winter covers. So say the Merc Vito is a good choice. I think seats for the front are easy; but because of the special shape of the other seats..... Good Luck Ian, and keep visiting this Forum.

Hello Jenmeg, Welcome to the Forum.

Hello Hi Sammy, Welcome to the Forum. I saw this one for sale. very attractive. The main issue you face is the fuel. There is an ongoing debate on here whether to use E5 or E10. You need to do a lot of reading to decide. In the meantime E5 is the safe (if expensive) option. I feel sure, in your early days of ownership you will think of many questions. This Forum is the first place to look for answers. Oh, and have fun with the head unit if it is the original Japanese one, we all do. I also recommend buying the JPNZ Owners manual. (FRO3035 or FRO396 from memory).

A hightop or poptop ? Hightop Alphies seem to be very rare !

Hi Charlie, I'll get you some photos of the outside. It goes in for conversion tomorrow ! I hope. The only non standard part on the outside is a chrome edge protection trim down each drivers door. I'm not fussed about them, one way or the other. I think my rear silencer box is probably non standard too. I have the MZ G version, as you know, with a white grill, which I prefer over chrome. My 'camper' should be a 'stealth' version; not obvious at all externally. Mains hookup out of sight too. Not sure how to achieve a stealth TV aerial yet. I have a black car. A real pig to keep clean and shiny. Have you got your wheels and tyres sorted yet ?

Hi Charlie, just rereading this. I believe I did send you photos privately. Please confirm.

Hi again, Yes I am aware of this blog, (but thanks for pointing it out) and it is very useful. I routinely recommend it to other new HDD users.

Why didn't Plexus Motors get it registered for you as part of their sales service ? Presumably they got an MOT as one is required before registration ! I have not heard of the number plate size problem before. Thanks for sharing that with us all. Enjoy your new machine. I'm sure you will.

Ldrego is proving elusive. I have written to him with your enquiry. I await his reply.

Try another Toyota dealer. They are not all so huffy. To be fair, Toyota Japan do not support the Alphard in UK. UK Dealers do have access to diagnostic software, as I recently learnt, but they chose not to work on Alphies. Not that it helps you, but I asked my local Toyota if they would perform a cam belt and water pump renewal. No Problem.

Hello, and welcome to this Forum. If you search for Ldrego (on this Forum) Search for Ldergo on this Forum. You should see a message tab. Send him a message. I'm sure he will help you if he can. He seems to prefer to use youtube, so search for cuttothechase

Hello Ayrie, I tried your suggestion today, and I am delighted to say it seems to work. I need to try it when the light is less bright. I am so happy, thank you. It is (was) one of the few things I wasn't overjoyed about with my Alphie. I have been pursuing a tactic of not pushing every button and hoping for the best !

Hi Tony, Welcome to the club. You are likely to have lots of questions soon. This Forum is the place to seek answers.

I'll try this tomorrow. Thanks. Do you have the HDD unit or another one

Hello Ayrie, Welcome to the Forum. Can you take a photo to help us to help you. There are several different head units fitted to Alphies ! My own, which is OK on all screens except the cameras. I intend to clean the camera covers/lenses, but would also like to know how to change the brightness. I have the HDD head unit. Very complicated and, of course, all in Japanese. What fun.

Webasto and Dometic heaters are supposed to be good.

Hi Chris, That's a feature I haven't seen before. Pretty neat too. I'll be watching this topic as I would also like to know OEM or a distributor option. Is yours a V or G ?

Hello Ise, Welcome to the Forum. Try and contact Ldrego. He does his own work and is in Edinburgh he may be able to suggest somewhere near you.

Hi Chris, Thanks again for a really useful contribution. I'm sure Jenny will try this asap. The problem is, as I understand it, that Jenny cannot get to this screen, or virtually any other! The stage we are at now is guessing the pet name of the previous owner !. Jenny has found what I believe is the password, written in what we believe is English. However, it is proving somewhat difficult to read properly. Jenny, any chance of you taking a photo of the 'password' for me to work on ?

Bonjour ! Looking, very carefully, at that EPC drawing you have supplied I would say the unit is on the centre line of the vehicle. Presumably, if it is under the drivers seat, it will be very easy to see it in situ. I don't have a Vellfire, or any second evolution model, so I can't check. Where are the output sockets to connect an appliance to the 100V inverter system ? On the earlier models they are behind the console between the front seats (if there is one on your vehicle). What is your model number eg, ATH10, or whatever ?

Hi Geoff, Welcome to the Forum. E5 is not a new fuel ! It is E10 that is the new fuel. E5 is (now) what was known as Super Unleaded. At the petrol station the fuels type, E5 or E10, must be displayed clearly on the pump. There is a (lengthy) ongoing debate on this Forum as to which fuel to use. At the end of the day, we all have our views, it is each owner that has to make the decision. For grey import Alphards, Toyota (UK) has not proved helpful at all on this issue. As above, there are some reports emerging that (some) Alphies do not perform well on E10.

Not even the console between the seats (not in front of the seats) ?

Hi Chris, and a good day to you. Jenny is based in Norfolk, so too far to help, unless you are headed that way ! I am very interested in this Techstream system. I was unaware of it until this post of yours. I have been checking out sources and costs. Jenny may be able to ask her local Toyota if they have Techstream. I can't imagine they won't. Perhaps they can use it to help Jenny. What version of Techstream do you have ?

Hello Jenny, I am so sorry to hear you are not well enough to visit Bean in Birmingham. I'm in Devon, so even further away than Charlie. I still think we are close with the password. Try to find the time, and inclination, to try those few combinations I have suggested. Runa is a very typical name for a pet dog in Japan, so you are already quite close. Hopefully your fitness improves very soon.